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05/07/2010

SCRAPBOOKING 101: Part 2

An Introduction to the Art of Scrapbooking(cont.)

STEP 3: PAPER

Once you've selected a theme and the photos that you wish to use in support of that theme, you need to choose your paper. Generally, this will be the background to your layout. Usually, I work on a double-page spread all at once, so I need matching or coordinating papers that work well together for the 12 x 24 (2x's 12 x 12) layout.

I like to keep a good stash of 12 x 12 paper on hand at all times to avoid having to run to the store or to avoid interruption of the flow of the project. It is wise to have a good base of solid colors -neutrals, pastels, brights and of course, black & white. Patterned papers come in a huge variety of styles these days. Choosing what to purchase can be overwhelming for the beginner, so don't get stressed out. Relax and enjoy the process! Many companies offer paper "stacks" that are grouped together, usually coordinated by theme or color. Find a couple of stacks that appeal to you and start there. I recommend starting with smaller patterns at the beginning, since larger patterns can compete with your photos and are a little trickier to use. (I will discuss the multiple uses of larger patterns in STEP 6: EMBELLISHMENTS).

Decide on a color scheme based on the event itself (for instance, you may want to use orange and black for a Halloween-themed layout), or allow yourself to be inspired by colors that appear in the photos (for example, you may want to choose a couple shades of blue that match the shirt of your subject and the water behind him), and chose papers accordingly. I discussed my point-of-view on this topic in a previous post (see 4/26/2010 Scrapbooking the Promise of Spring / Color Concepts in Scrapbooking).

In the layout below, I chose grass photo paper combined with a coordinating solid green background paper and a solid yellow for accent. The patterned paper (grass photo) was chosen to match the grass beyond the picture window. The solid green matched the hue of the plants and grass in the photos. The solid yellow was chosen to add a nice contrast.

In the next layout, I chose to use patterned paper on both sides of my layout. The paper on the left has a small repeat of boyish toys and a toddler running around with wild abandon, much like the subject in the photos. On the right, I chose a vertical stripe pattern that coordinated with the colors on the left side, and also contrasted beautifully with the horizontal stripes created by the repetition of the stairs in the photos I was intending to use.

There are times that you will want contrast and there are other times you will prefer the paper to blend with your photos. In the layout below, I wanted the emphasis to be on the beautiful relationship between the subjects in the photos and I wanted as little distraction as possible, so I chose to match the color of the father's shirt in my background paper. Although the pattern is large, it is not loud, so it doesn't call attention away from the photos.

The best advice I can give you is to try a couple of different papers with the photos that you have selected for your layout. Be conscious of the effect that your choices have on the story that you are telling and ask yourself: Does the paper compliment the photos, or does it distract the eye away from them? As long as the photos still remain the most important element on your page, you should be all set.

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Scrapbooking paper

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SCRAPBOOKING 101: Part 2

An Introduction to the Art of Scrapbooking(cont.)

STEP 3: PAPER

Once you've selected a theme and the photos that you wish to use in support of that theme, you need to choose your paper. Generally, this will be the background to your layout. Usually, I work on a double-page spread all at once, so I need matching or coordinating papers that work well together for the 12 x 24 (2x's 12 x 12) layout.

I like to keep a good stash of 12 x 12 paper on hand at all times to avoid having to run to the store or to avoid interruption of the flow of the project. It is wise to have a good base of solid colors -neutrals, pastels, brights and of course, black & white. Patterned papers come in a huge variety of styles these days. Choosing what to purchase can be overwhelming for the beginner, so don't get stressed out. Relax and enjoy the process! Many companies offer paper "stacks" that are grouped together, usually coordinated by theme or color. Find a couple of stacks that appeal to you and start there. I recommend starting with smaller patterns at the beginning, since larger patterns can compete with your photos and are a little trickier to use. (I will discuss the multiple uses of larger patterns in STEP 6: EMBELLISHMENTS).

Decide on a color scheme based on the event itself (for instance, you may want to use orange and black for a Halloween-themed layout), or allow yourself to be inspired by colors that appear in the photos (for example, you may want to choose a couple shades of blue that match the shirt of your subject and the water behind him), and chose papers accordingly. I discussed my point-of-view on this topic in a previous post (see 4/26/2010 Scrapbooking the Promise of Spring / Color Concepts in Scrapbooking).

In the layout below, I chose grass photo paper combined with a coordinating solid green background paper and a solid yellow for accent. The patterned paper (grass photo) was chosen to match the grass beyond the picture window. The solid green matched the hue of the plants and grass in the photos. The solid yellow was chosen to add a nice contrast.

In the next layout, I chose to use patterned paper on both sides of my layout. The paper on the left has a small repeat of boyish toys and a toddler running around with wild abandon, much like the subject in the photos. On the right, I chose a vertical stripe pattern that coordinated with the colors on the left side, and also contrasted beautifully with the horizontal stripes created by the repetition of the stairs in the photos I was intending to use.

There are times that you will want contrast and there are other times you will prefer the paper to blend with your photos. In the layout below, I wanted the emphasis to be on the beautiful relationship between the subjects in the photos and I wanted as little distraction as possible, so I chose to match the color of the father's shirt in my background paper. Although the pattern is large, it is not loud, so it doesn't call attention away from the photos.

The best advice I can give you is to try a couple of different papers with the photos that you have selected for your layout. Be conscious of the effect that your choices have on the story that you are telling and ask yourself: Does the paper compliment the photos, or does it distract the eye away from them? As long as the photos still remain the most important element on your page, you should be all set.